Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Preston

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been through an unsettled period over the last few months. There is a new manager in post, who has applied to register with Ofsted. Following the registered manager’s departure the deputy manager also resigned from her post. A new deputy manager has been appointed. The new manager demonstrates a real commitment to improving outcomes for young people and raising standards of care practice within the home. Social workers spoken with during this inspection commented on the difficulties experienced by the young people and staff, but felt the new manager has been trying to turn things around. This was also confirmed by staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are only two young people currently accommodated in the home; both young people are not fully engaging in the placement and spend the majority of their time away from the home. One young person, who has lived in the home since August 2016, is regularly reported as absent from the home. Staff do not know where the young person is or who they are with. There are concerns that the young person is engaging in risk-taking behaviour, including associating with others who are known to the police and smoking cannabis. The manager has served notice because she recognises that the home cannot keep the young person safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have been challenged by young people’s behaviour; behaviour management strategies have been ineffective. Incident records show that one young person was subjected to intimidation and threats by two other young people. On one occasion they caused deliberate damage to his work uniform and then tried to intimidate him when they were told they would have to pay to replace it. Some situations have escalated out of control, resulting in staff being physically assaulted. On one occasion the police were called to help restore order; this led to a young person being arrested. Due to the seriousness of the incident, the young person was bailed not to return to the home, which meant a change in placement for them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The records of bullying are poor, as they fail to demonstrate how bullying has been addressed, including action taken by the staff to ensure that young people feel safe and are not subjected to further incidents of bullying. The minutes of a recent young people’s meeting on 27 February 2017 records a young person saying that he didn’t feel he was being bullied, but it felt more like he was being terrorised. This demonstrates that some young people have not always felt safe and secure.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Insufficient consideration has been given to matching, care planning and risk assessments prior to admissions to the home. This has resulted in a chaotic environment and staff struggling to maintain routines and boundaries. Furthermore, the young person who very recently came to live at the home is now regularly going missing with the other young person. This means staff do not know of his whereabouts or who he is associating with.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are not sufficiently robust and do not fully assess young people’s levels of risk. There is no clear guidance for staff on how to manage young people when they return home under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Furthermore, staff have not updated a young person’s risk assessments to reflect changes in their behaviour, such as setting small fires in the home. Following a risk assessment in August 2016, all fire extinguishers were removed from communal areas of the home. However, this has not been reviewed following the incidents of fire setting by a young person. This potentially compromises the welfare and safety of young people and staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have struggled to meet the needs of some young people’s complex and challenging behaviours. The manager is using regular staff meetings and supervision sessions as an opportunity to improve the team’s skills, reflect on practice and ensure consistency within the team. The staff say that the home is improving because of these recent changes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has taken action to address the five requirements made at the last inspection. The home is currently undergoing major redecoration and refurbishment to ensure that young people benefit from living in a homely environment. The manager is monitoring the sanction records to ensure that young people have the opportunity to reflect on any consequences imposed. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. However, a revision of the complaints procedure ensures that a robust system is in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She has only been at the home for a short time, but has a comprehensive development plan in place that identifies her objectives for the months ahead. This demonstrates her commitment to driving forward improvement. Going forward, the manager accepts there is still much to do.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to six male young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/12/2016 Full Good 29/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/12/2015 Full Good 17/12/2014 Full Adequate

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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The positive relationships standard

11.—(1) The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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The positive relationships standard

(b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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The positive relationships standard

(c) positive responses to other children and adults.

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The positive relationships standard

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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The positive relationships standard

(i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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The positive relationships standard

(ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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The positive relationships standard

(iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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The positive relationships standard

(iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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The positive relationships standard

(v) communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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The positive relationships standard

(vii) help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; 28/05/2017 (xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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The positive relationships standard

(xii) understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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The positive relationships standard

(xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them.

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The protection of children standard

12.—(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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The protection of children standard

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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The protection of children standard

(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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The protection of children standard

(ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe. 28/04/ 2017

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The care planning standard

14 In order to meet the care planning standard the provider must ensure—

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The care planning standard

(2)(a) that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (2) (a) ) 28/04/2017

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The care planning standard

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to the home—

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The care planning standard

(b) the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order, are complied with in respect of the home, especially the risk assessment for the provision of suitable fire equipment. (Regulation 25(2)(b)) 28/04/2017

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The care planning standard

Ensure the provider employs individuals to work at the children’s home who have the appropriate experience, qualifications and skills for their work. (Regulation 32(3)(b)) 28/05/2017

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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